7 Ways To Beat Back Swine Flu

Dr. Bernadine Healy gives us this report concerning the swine flu; otherwise known as H1N1.  The article talks about how this flu pandemic has spread across almost every country in the world and how it is being compared to a pandemic outbreak that occurred in America in 1918, which was caused by an H1N1 strain also.  The article then goes on to explain how this strain may not be quite as horrific as it is being portrayed, and Dr. Healy gives us 7 ways to that might help get America and other countries through this crisis.  She sums them up with:  

1) Confirm the case; referring to the medical community making guesses that are causing an uproar.

2) Figure out what makes people susceptible; priority vaccinations or antiviral drugs could be more targeted, sparing resources.

3) Intense treatment of severe pneumonia; the flu kills mostly by bringing on a severe pneumonia.  They are coming up with new ways to treat pneumonia with something called an ECMO, which gives the lungs more of a chance to rest and heal, so ultimately the flu will not take so many lives.

4) Vaccine technology needs to improve; the new vaccines are out in circulation too slowly.

5) Provide medicines to poor countries; the U.S. needs to donate 10% of the vaccine supply to the World Health Organization to help less fortunate countries.

6) Public-health emergency powers should be flexible; there is a debate going on concerning whether the 2009 pandemic is actually more benign than what they originally thought.

7) Vitamin D may play a role; there is evidence to show that individuals with adequate vitamin D in their systems are immune to the seasonal flu.  There needs to be more tests to see if the same is true for the swine flu.  

And finally, Dr. Healy suggests the same as what you hear everywhere, just wash your hands frequently, use sanitizer, and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

There is so much said through the media concerning who should get the vaccine, and the overall scare of this virus.  It is so nice to read something about the flu that isn't scaring us.  It actually looks as though the swine flu isn't quite as serious as it was originally made out to be.  This article was very informative, and the you can read in more detail the seven steps Dr. Healy suggests. 

I did not realize the 1918 pandemic claimed over half a million lives.  That is so much worse than what we are dealing with now.  Also, the 1918 outbreak was classified as a category 5, the worst category known, even among today's standards.  However, as miserable and contagious are the symptoms of our recent strain, it is classified as a category 1.  That is apparently similar, according to the article, to what we know as the ordinary seasonal flu.  Very surprising isn't is?

I personally have never gotten a flu shot of any kind, neither has my husband or children.  We didn't have anything against the vaccine, we just haven't had the initiative to do so.  However, after reading the article, and realizing the tendency in the medical community is to overuse the antivirals and antibiotics, causing a resistance to antiviral drugs such as, Tamiflu and Relenza, it doesn't make me want to rush out to get the vaccine at all.  It makes you wonder if building a natural immunity to all different types of strains are the better way to deal with this. Especially if you are not at high risk.  

One step in the article that caught my eye in particular, was step #4; vaccine technology must improve.  Dr. Healy points out that both the flu vaccines that will be available this fall will not likely have much of an impact.  She states, "the seasonal flu vaccine we have in hand doesn't work for the swine flu, which accounts for about 90% of what's circulating, and the vaccine that will protect against H1N1 won't be distributed in time to make a difference."

The medical community seems to be going in circles, and the media is causing communities to run in circles, not knowing what to do about this outbreak.  Hopefully, there will be some answers and these issues can be solved very soon.